PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government spokesperson Barrister Dr. Mohammad Ali Saif said that a special KP flight to Bishkek has been halted at Lahore Airport.

He accused Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif of ordering the flight’s stoppage.

Saif mentioned that the special plane is ready for takeoff, with all legal and administrative requirements, including clearance of Bishkek airport airspace, fully met.

Barrister Saif alleged that Khawaja Asif had grounded the plane on the unfounded claim of incomplete documentation on Tuesday.

He stated that students are distressed at Bishkek Airport, while Khawaja Asif has turned the situation into an issue of personal ego.

He accused the government, allegedly manipulating Form-47, of politicizing every issue and expressed concern about the mental anguish the students and their parents are experiencing.

He recalled that when students arrived in Peshawar on Tuesday, their parents were overjoyed, crying tears of happiness upon seeing their loved ones.

He accused Khawaja Asif of playing with people’s emotions.

The third special plane from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is expected to arrive at Peshawar’s Bacha Khan International Airport tonight from Bishkek.

Minister for Higher Education Meena Khan Afridi, Finance Advisor Muzamil Aslam, and Faisal Amin Gandapur will be there to welcome the students.